220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is upgrading a workstation from a…

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

• ✗

  The CPU is counterfeit and only has two functional cores

  Why it's wrong here

  A counterfeit CPU, while a possibility, is an uncommon cause for only a partial core count being reported. Such a CPU would more typically lead to severe system instability, boot failures, or incorrect CPU model identification rather than merely detecting fewer functional cores. The system would likely exhibit more critical symptoms if the CPU itself were compromised or physically damaged in a way that disabled specific cores.

• ✗

  The operating system is limited to two cores due to licensing

  Why it's wrong here

  Operating system licensing, particularly for consumer versions like Windows Home or Pro, typically limits the number of physical CPU sockets a system can utilize (e.g., one), but it does not restrict the number of cores visible or usable within that single CPU. All cores on a properly installed and supported CPU should be detected and reported by the operating system, even if other OS features or performance are limited. Therefore, missing cores are not a licensing issue.

• ✓

  The motherboard BIOS is outdated and does not fully support the new CPU

  Why this is correct

  An outdated motherboard BIOS is a very common cause for a new CPU not being fully recognized, especially when upgrading to a newer generation or model. The BIOS contains the necessary microcode and initialization routines to correctly identify and configure the CPU's features, including its core count. Without the proper BIOS update, the system may default to a generic CPU profile, misreport the number of active cores, or even fail to boot entirely, making a BIOS update the primary solution.

• ✗

  The CPU cooler is too tight, causing physical damage to the CPU

  Why it's wrong here

  An overtightened CPU cooler typically causes significant physical stress to the CPU package or the motherboard socket. This type of damage would most likely result in catastrophic system failures, such as the system failing to POST, immediate shutdowns, or severe instability and crashes. It is highly improbable that an overtightened cooler would selectively disable only a portion of the CPU cores while allowing the rest of the system to function normally.

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